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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Shotguns
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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40839
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
The different shotgun bore sizes
      #393311 - 07/09/25 11:14 PM

4 bore, 8 bore, 10 bore, the most common, the 12 bore, 16 bore, 20 bore, 24 bore, 28 bore, and the .410. Any others? Smooth bores only.

What were the original purposes of the different bores? Any historical special ones and purposes? Any special purposes you personally have?

The 12 bore is the main versatile choice. A bit of everything

Here I've aways seen the 16 bore as popular in continental Europe, and their descendents around the world.

And Ithe 410 as a choice for a child and newbies.

Thelargest bores used for punt waterfowl shooting.

what are your thoughts?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27816
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: The different shotgun bore sizes [Re: NitroX]
      #393313 - 08/09/25 12:55 AM

The 14 bore was quite popular in the middle 1850's and up into the ctg era.
My bro has a percussion Manton that has 15 bore tubes, from about the mid 1850's.
14 was .693" nominally and 15 was .677"

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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93x64mm
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Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4511
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
Re: The different shotgun bore sizes [Re: DarylS]
      #393314 - 08/09/25 06:03 AM

Punt guns were huge affairs, possibly 1 bore?
Commercial wildfowlers.

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Claydog
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Reged: 17/08/12
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Re: The different shotgun bore sizes [Re: 93x64mm]
      #393322 - 08/09/25 08:07 AM

20 and 28 bore becoming very popular now and second hand they get a premium over the twelve. The smaller bores allowed a smaller lighter action and gun overall. They all had their uses. Good to see the sub bores making a come back. Was talking to a retailer in Melbourne who said they are selling alot of new 20s and 28s. I think punt guns could be anything from 8 to 1.

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eagle27
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Re: The different shotgun bore sizes [Re: Claydog]
      #393324 - 08/09/25 01:26 PM

COTW has probably the most extensive list of shotgun and smooth bores. Some true gauges missing from your list are 11 gauge, 15 gauge, 18 gauge and 32 gauge.

11 gauge - two double barreled guns and about 200 shells were made in the 1890's.

15 gauge - only listed for one year in the Winchester 1877 catalogue with brass shells. A rarity only found in the best collections.

18 gauge - European gauge made for custom shotguns. UMC made some for an experimental Browning shotgun sometimes with a 20 gauge headstamp. European pin fire versions also existed.

32 gauge - Made well into the 1930's with other loading batches made in later years. Fiocchi making shells in recent years.

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: The different shotgun bore sizes [Re: eagle27]
      #393334 - 09/09/25 01:08 AM

I had forgotten about the 28 bore and its more recent rise in popularity. Another from times past was the 24bore.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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85lc
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Reged: 19/01/18
Posts: 1242
Loc: Georgia, USA
Re: The different shotgun bore sizes [Re: DarylS]
      #393336 - 09/09/25 04:30 AM

I had a double rifle drilling with the shotgun barrel being a 32 ga. I bought a couple boxes of shells over time. I also had an insert so that I could shoot .410 shells. I understand that the 32 ga was somewhat popular in Italy and maybe France.

I have heard of a 36 ga but never seen a gun in that ga and wonder how different thatwas from a .410.

Another shell is the 9mm shotshell which is still being made. A friend had a gun in 9mm RF that he inherited. He also had some shells with solid ball. I have seen cane guns in 9mm RF shot. I think the 9mm RF shotshell was for shooting garden pest (squirrels, chipmunks, birds) that were eating one's crop. I think they are fairly quite and have a short range. Shot sizes range from #6 to #9 and velocity is about 600fps (I believe).

I think a cane gun in 9mm shot would be interesting to have.

On the other side of 9mm shotshells, there was a 2 bore which I would like to watch someone shoot; I wouldn't want to shoot a 2 bore. I like my shoulder where it is.

--------------------
RB

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85lc
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Reged: 19/01/18
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Re: The different shotgun bore sizes [Re: 85lc]
      #393337 - 09/09/25 04:34 AM

FYI: Article about that heavy waterfowl shotgun gauge: https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2021/07/26/rimfire-report-9mm-flobert/

--------------------
RB

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